Liverpool unveil controversial purple, orange and white third kit

Liverpool have released their debate-inducing third kit for the 2012/13 – designed in purple, white and orange by new manufacturer Warrior.

Steve Gerrard modelling the new Liverpool third kit (Picture: Liverpool)

The new shirt also includes bizarre tribal patterns on the sleeves, which has divided opinion among fans.

Supporters had been teased with leaked pictures and video clips in the build-up – leading to a great deal of debate over whether the shirt design was modern and cutting edge, or garish and tacky.

Warrior, owned by American manufacturer New Balance, had originally got the thumbs up from supporters for their design of the home kit.

But that trust appears to have been destroyed in the eyes of many by the reveal of the latest kit – and fans have taken to Twitter to mount their frustration, with only a rare few tweeting in support of the design.

Andy Carroll standing proud in the new design (Picture: Liverpool)

‘Liverpool’s third kit has built in tattooed sleeves. Ace. Just what inky gimps like Bellamy and Skrtel need,’ posted one football fan.

Another unhappy supporter tweeted: ‘So Liverpool’s new away kit has tribal on it… what a classy team I support.’

But there was at least one fan who can’t wait to rush to the shops to buy it.

He wrote: ‘You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy Liverpool’s kit, and that’s kind of the same thing :-).’

The purple, white and orange colours are based on the former goalkeeping kits of David James in the 1994/95 and 1995/96 season, and Pepe Reina’s during the 2010/11 campaign.